{ "meta": { "schema_version": "1.1", "endpoint": "/api/sources/rhineland-mystics/suso/vol-1-33-chapter-xxxvi.json" }, "work": { "slug": "suso", "name": "Heinrich Suso" }, "parents": [ { "slug": "rhineland-mystics", "name": "Rhineland Mystics", "url": "/sources/rhineland-mystics/" } ], "chapter": { "num": 34, "slug": "vol-1-33-chapter-xxxvi", "title": "Chapter XXXVI.", "of": 51, "words": 1236, "text": "## Chapter XXXVI.\n\nOf the first beginnings of a beginner. \nThe beginnings of a holy life, said the \nServitor to the daughter, are various. One \nperson begins in one way, and another in an- \nother; but as regards the beginning, to which \nyour questions refer, I will tell you about it. \nI know a man in Christ, who, when he began \nto give himself to God, first cleared out his \nconscience by a general confession ; and he \n\n\nFIRST BEGINNINGS. 163 \n\nspared no pains to make tins confession well, \nby exposing every sin that lie had committed \nto a prudent confessor, in order that he might \ngo pure and clean from the confessor, who sits \nin God's place, and that all his sins might be \nforgiven him, as happened to Mary Magdalen, \nwhen, with penitent heart and tearful eyes, she \nwashed Christ's feet, and God forgave her all \nher sins. Such was the first beginning of this \nman's turning to God. \n\nThe daughter laid this example very much \nto heart, and she wished to lose no time in \nimitating it, and she conceived a great desire \nto make her confession to the Servitor, thinking \nthat he would be the one best suited for her ; \nand it was her intention also, in doing this, to \nbecome thereby his spiritual daughter, and so \nto have a greater claim upon his godly care. \n\nNow it so happened that the confession \ncould not be made by word of mouth. She \ntherefore passed in review her whole life, which, \nin very truth, had been a pure and innocent \none; and whatever sins it seemed to her that \nshe had committed, she wrote down on a large \nwaxen tablet, which she then fastened up and \nsent to him, begging him to pronounce absolu- \ntion over her sins. \n\n\n164 LIFE OF BLESSED HENRY SUSO. \n\nWhen he read through the confession, lie \ncame to the following words at the bottom of \nthe tablet: — Gracious sir, I, a sinful creature, \nfall down now at your feet and beseech you, \nwith your true and faithful heart, to bring me \nback again into God's heart, and to let me be \ncalled your child in time and in eternity. The \ndaughter s confiding devotion touched him very \nmuch, and, turning to God, he said : — Merciful \nGod, what answer is Thy Servitor to make to \nthis? Shall I drive her from me? I should \nnot like to treat a dog thus. O Lord, if I did \nthis, it might reflect ill upon Thee, my Lord \nand Master ; for she seeks the Lord's wealth in \nHis servant. O gentle Lord, I cast myself at \nThy holy feet, and beseech Thee, kind Lord, to \nhear her. Let her have the benefit of her good \nfaith and hearty confidence, for she cries after \nus. How didst Thou treat the heathen woman? \nAh ! kind Heart, see how far and wide the fame \nof Thy unfathomable bountifulness has spread \namongst us. O kindly Goodness, turn Thy \ngentle eyes towards her, and say to her one \nsingle little word of consolation. Say then, \n\" Confide filia, fides tua te salvam fecit,\" — Be \nof good heart, daughter; thy faith has saved \nthee. And bring Thou it to pass in my stead ; \n\n\nFIRST BEGINNINGS. 165 \n\nfor I have done what rests with me, and I have \nwished her a full absolution from all her sins. \n\nHe wrote back the following answer to her \nby the same messenger: — What thou hast asked \nof God through the Servitor has come to pass, \nand thou must know that it was all shown to \nhim by God beforehand. Early this very morn- \ning, when his prayer was ended, he sat down \nfor a brief moment of repose; and his bodily \nsenses being stilled in ecstasy, many divine \nmysteries were manifested to him. Among \nother things, he was enlightened to understand \nhow God has made diversity of form to be the \nindividualising principle of the angelic nature, \nand has given to each angel a special property \nwhich distinguishes him from the rest ; all which \nit is impossible for him to express in words. \nAfter he had spent a good space of time in \nheavenly recreation with the angelic spirits, and \nwas in very joyous mood through the exceeding \nwonderment which his soul had felt, it seemed \nto him, in the same vision, that thou didst come \nin and stand before him where he sat among the \nheavenly company, and then, kneeling down \nwith great earnestness in front of him, didst \nbow thy face upon his heart, and continue \nkneeling thus with thy face bowed upon his \n\n\n166 LIFE OF BLESSED HENRY SUSO. \n\nheart, so that the angels who stood by beheld \nit. The brother marvelled at thy boldness, and \nyet thy bearing was so holy that he graciously \npermitted it. What manner of graces the \nHeavenly Father bestowed on thee, whilst thou \nwert bowed down upon the suffering heart, thou \nknowest right well, and they were visible upon \nthee; for when after a good while thou didst \nraise up thyself, thy countenance was so joyous \nand full of grace, that it was quite evident God \nhad bestowed some special grace upon thee ; and \nHe will do still more for thee through the same \nheart, that He may be glorified in it, and thou \nconsoled. \n\nThe like happened also to a maiden named \nAnna, a noble and godly person, who dwelt in \na castle, and who, moreover, led a life of pure \nunmingled suffering. God wrought great mar- \nvels in her from her youth up until her death. \nBefore she knew the Servitor, or had ever heard \nof him, she was one day rapt in ecstasy at her \ndevotions, and she saw how the Saints gaze upon \nand praise God in the court of heaven. Upon \nthis she prayed her dear Apostle St. John, to \nwhom she had a sj)ecial devotion, to hear her \nconfession. He answered her very lovingly : — \nI will give thee a good confessor in my place. \n\n\nFIRST BEGINNINGS. 167 \n\nGod has granted him full authority over thee, \nand he can comfort thee well in thy manifold \nsufferings. She asked who and where he was, \nand what was his name: all which St. John \nmade known to her. She thanked God, and, \nrising early in the morning, went to the monas- \ntery which God had shown her, and asked for \nhim. He came to her to the outer gate, and \ninquired of her what her business was. Upon \nthis she made her confession to him, and when \nhe heard the heavenly message, he consented, \nand fulfilled it. \n\nThis holy daughter also told him, that she \nhad once seen in spirit a beautiful rose-tree, \nrichly adorned with red roses, and on the rose- \ntree there appeared the little Child Jesus, with \na garland of red roses. Beneath the rose-tree \nshe saw the Servitor sitting. The little Child \nbroke off many of the roses, and threw them \nupon the Servitor, so that he became all covered \nand bestrewed with roses. Upon this she asked \nthe Child what the roses meant, and He an- \nswered : — The great quantity of roses signifies \nthe manifold sufferings which God will send \nhim, and which he must lovingly accept at \nGod's hands, and bear with patience. \n\n\n168 LIFE OF BLESSED HENRY SUSO.", "project_translation": false, "text_trust": "verbatim", "quote_safe": true, "license": null, "methodology_url": null } }